Life-saving apparatus for use at sea.



A. J. MAGLEOD.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS FOR USE AT SEA. APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1908.

926,268. Patented June 29, 1909.

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A. J. MAGLEOD. LIFE SAYINGAPPABATUS FOR USE AT SEA. APPLICATION nun MAY 11, 1908.

926,268. Patented June 29, 1909.

Wil'usszs v x m \dl J INvEM'or- M Y mine p B j go Mam n y -ALEXANDER JAMES MAOLEOD, OF WEST HARTLEPOOL, ENGLAND.

LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS FOR USE AT SEA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Application filed May 11, 1908. Serial No. 432,043.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER JAMES MAoLnoD, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Dunvegan House, Tankerville street, West Hartlepool, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lifesaving Apparatus for Use at Sea, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to life saving apparatus for use at sea, of the type in which a line is employed stretching from the ship to the shore and serving to carry a cradle containing people or valuables. The line is car ried from the vessel 'to the shore by means of a projectile fired from a pneumatic'gun of special construction, this projectile carrying the end of a fine line which when it reaches the shore can be used for hauling in the more substantial line actually used. This line is secured to the mast above a platform,

on the mast, each mast being preferably provided with the apparatus, and the platform is furnished with a covered opening through which a hoisting cradle, normally lowered by the side of the mast, can be raised on guides to the platform, the line carrying a separate traveling cradle.

In order that my invention may be more readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation of part of the mast with the apparatus applied; Fig. 2 is a plan of the platform; and Figs. 3 and 4: are respectively an elevation partly in section and a plan of the gun; Figs. 5 and 6 show a modification of the gun; and Fig. 7 shows the projectile.

The mast A carries the platform B at the usual height, this platform being shown'of circular form. On this is mounted the gun C (more particularly described hereafter), but the gun may be placed on any convenient part of the vessel, such as the bridge deck or poop, or several may be provided, any of which can be used in case of necessity.

The conical nosed projectile D is preferably made of copper and is hollow so that it floats if it should fall into the water and can be readily recovered. The rear end is provided with a cup cl and at the middle is a ring d to which is attached the ends of a thin flexible steel wire E serving to connect the line F tothe projectile. When the projectile is in the end of the gun, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3, the wire lies outing over the pulleys n side. The line F is coiled in a conveniently situated box and uncoils as the projectile proceeds toward the shore. For night work a small fuse 0 may be attached to the wire E and to give an audible signal the projectile may be provided with whistles e which sound as it moves through the air. It may also be made visible atnight by coating it with phosphorescent or luminous material.

-Helpless passengers or valuables can thus be, hoisted to the platform ready for the traveling cradle. Other passengers can reach the platform by ratlines. The main line J, which has been hauled in to the shore by the line F, is connected to the mast by the pulley rope j and can be hauled taut. The traveling cradle H is. shown mounted on the line J and a thinner hauling line K is attached to the cradle enabling it to be drawn toward the shore or back to the vessel.

Referring to the gun C to be used in my apparatus for firing the projectile, this is provided inside with the strong spring L behind the cup Z which fits airtight in the gun and forms with the cup (Z of the projectile D an airtight chamber into which compressed air can be forced, compressing the spring into the rear of the gun, as shown in Fig. 3. The projectileis inserted in the muzzle of the gun as far as the ring (Z which'rests against the end of the muzzle. On eachside of the gun is a strong lever M pivoted at m and having a projecting nose m engaging over the ring al and securing the projectile against the internal pressure. The projectile is released by the trigger lever N on top of the gun connected to the ends of the levers M by the wires 91. pass- It will be seen that on pulling down the trigger lever N the levers M are turned to withdraw the noses or catches m from the ring (P.

In place of the levers M the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be employed, in which the muzzle end of the gun has a ring a with projections c engaging in notches (Z in the ring (Z and also a loose ring mounted so as to turn through a small angle by means of the handle 0 and having projecting noses 0 engaging over the ring (Z The projectile is inserted in the muzzle in the position which allows the noses c and 0 to pass through the notches (Z and the ring 0 is then turned slightly to cause 0 to engage the ring (Z locking the projectile in position. A slight turn of O releases the projectile.

In using the gun the projectile is fixed in position before pressure is applied and after fixing air is forced in by any convenient form of air pump giving a high pressure or from a compressed air reservoir or any other suitable apparatus. The chamber between the spring L and the projectile is thus filled under high pressure and the spring forced back. On release of the projectile the spring follows it up and causes it to be ected at high velocity.

Life saving apparatus of this type is readily putinto service and so long as the vessel is within reach of the shore communication can be established very expeditiously. It is obvious that the line may be fired from the shore to the vessel instead of in the reverse direction, if a gun and line are provided on land. Communicationcan also be established between two vessels in case of necessity.

that I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In life saving apparatus for use at sea the combination of a projectile, a communieating line attached to the-projectile and a gun for firing the projectile having an internal spring, a compressed air chamber bet-ween the spring and the rear of the pro j ectile and means for securing the projectile in the muzzle while compressed air is being forced in and for releasing it under the air pressure.

2. In life saving apparatus for use at sea, the combination of a projectile having a fixed ring upon its body and a cup flange at the rear, a communicating line attached to the projectile, a gun for firing the projectile, a strong spring inside the gun, air tight piston on the spring forming, with the rear of the projectile, a compression chamber, a aatch on the muzzle end of the gun engaging the fixed ring on the projectile and means for releasing the said catch, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In life saving apparatus for use at sea, a projectile having a fixed notched ring, a communicating line attached to the projectile, an air gun, projections on the muzzle of the gun engaging the notched ring, and a ring loosely secured on the muzzle having noses engaging the notched ring of the projectile and releasing the latter on turning the loose ring, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER JAMES MACLEOD.

lVitnesses JOHN W. lVAL'roN, Gno. SMITH. 

